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Neuroscience Research Australia application can help predict falls among elderly

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A mobile application developed by Neuroscience Research Australia in partnership with the Mark Moran Group is designed to help maximise the physical and psychological wellbeing of older people, including screening for those at risk of falls.

The FallScreen+ app tests people aged over 60 years for health conditions and the developers claim it can predict falls among older people with 75 percent accuracy.

The tool will be made available through app stores for download for those who work in the aged care sector, such as physiotherapists and fall prevention clinicians and researchers, following a trial period at MMG facilities.

"FallScreen+ is unique because it screens issues early on, flags problem areas and makes recommendations for effective treatment strategies to address potential health problems," said senior NeuRA researcher Kim Delbaere in a statement.

A statement from MMG co-founder Evette Moran pointed out prevention allows a continuation of quality.

"By making breakthroughs and saving one life, or potentially tens of thousands of lives, we are creating a future where older Australians will continue their interests, their passions, their health and being celebrated in their community," said Moran.

The application, which was designed using more than 30 years of NeuRA's research involving about 20,000 participants, is just one of many being rolled over the past few months designed to help extend healthcare services to Australians.

This includes a smartphone app for telehealth services, developed through a partnership between Northern Queensland Primary Health Network and home physician service House Call Doctor.

Announced in July, the app brings Telehealth Doctor NQ to residents in Mareeba and Atherton in Far North Queensland, allowing patients to ring up for a consultation, or book one online, and receive medical advice or have prescriptions and certificates sent to their mobile device.

In June, a research team from Deakin University's School of Nursing and Midwifery announced it had developed and tested a "Carer Guide" mobile phone app, which provides guidance for carers looking after people with cancer.

The app was tested with a 30-day pilot trial among a group of carers of colorectal cancer patients recruited from the Victorian health service, receiving positive responses from participants.

Meanwhile, a mobile app developed by researchers at the Joondalup Health Campus and Princess Margaret Hospitals in Australia has used artificial intelligence (AI) to accurately diagnose common respiratory disorders in children.

FallScreen isn't even the only technology entering the market to help prevent falls: Digital hearing systems specialist Starkey Hearing Technologies integrated AI into a hearing aid called Livio AI, which uses integrated sensors to record cognitive health and physical activity, including alters triggered by a fall.

The hearing aid, which features a multi-core twin compressor and dual radio system, became available in Australia in June along with the Thrive Hearing Control mobile application.